Ronaldo rescues Real as United earn draw
Reuters - Wednesday 13 February 2013, 21:36
Cristiano Ronaldo showed he was equal to the biggest of occasions with a
brilliant header for Real Madrid against former club Manchester United
as the heavyweight Champions League last 16 first leg showdown ended 1-1
on Wednesday.
Watched by
millions around the world, the hotly-anticipated clash at the Bernabeu
was Portuguese Ronaldo's first game against the club where he made his
name before joining Real for a world-record fee in 2009.
It
also renewed the rivalry between Real coach Jose Mourinho and his
United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson as the La Liga champions seek the 10th
European title that has eluded them since 2002 and the Premier League
leaders chase a fourth triumph in Europe's elite club competition.
United
withstood an early Real onslaught and drew first blood against the run
of play in the 20th minute when Danny Welbeck nodded past Diego Lopez
from a Wayne Rooney corner.
Ronaldo levelled 10 minutes later when he towered above Patrice Evra to send an Angel di Maria centre arrowing into the corner.
The
result gave United a slight advantage for the return leg in Manchester
on March 5, although both sides will regret squandering chances in the
second half that could have eased their passage to the last eight.
Mourinho said he was confident his side could score more than one goal at Old Trafford next month.
"It's
true they had two big chances in the second half but it was out of
context because we were chasing the game and they were defending and
waiting," the former Chelsea and Inter Milan manager told a news
conference.
"Basically ,what I thought, everything's open, very open for the second leg. I think this will go to the last minute."
FRAGILE TEENAGER
Ronaldo,
top scorer in this season's Champions League with seven goals in seven
appearances, barely celebrated his goal and spoke of the debt he owes
United, where he was transformed from an inexperienced and fragile
teenager into one of the world's most formidable forwards.
"It's
a place where I played for six years and I have a lot of affection for
the club as everyone knows," Ronaldo told Spanish television broadcaster
Canal Plus.
"United are very
strong in defence and they created some problems for us. But with the
chances we had, we could have scored more goals," the 28-year-old added.
"Everything's open for the game at Old Trafford and I think we have the ability to score goals there and get through."
The
two clubs were paired in Europe for the first time in almost a decade
and as well as 2008 world player of the year Ronaldo the match showcased
some of the game's top performers like United forwards Robin van Persie
and Wayne Rooney and Real playmaker Mesut Ozil.
Real
attacked the visitors' goal from the start, United goalkeeper David de
Gea tipping a Fabio Coentrao effort on to a post in the sixth minute as a
ragged United struggled to retain possession.
They
had yet to have an attempt on goal when Welbeck spun away from Sergio
Ramos and nodded inside the post for only his second goal in 28 matches.
Ronaldo,
given a rousing ovation from both sets of fans before kick-off, went
close following up on his own free-kick before his equaliser sent the
home fans into raptures.
The
Real faithful are hungry for Champions League success as the team's bid
for a second straight La Liga title has floundered and they are stuck
down in third 16 points behind leaders and arch rivals Barcelona.
Real
were far more threatening going forward but nearly conceded a second in
the 34th minute when Welbeck came close to poking a Van Persie centre
past Diego Lopez.
BACK FOOT
United started the second half brightly but were soon on the back foot again as Real surged forward in search of a second.
De
Gea, who joined United from Real's city rivals Atletico Madrid, again
denied Coentrao on the hour when he flung himself to hook the full-back's
goal-bound shot away with his right boot.
Although they were seeing little of the ball, United managed to create a number of dangerous openings.
Lopez
tipped a searing Van Persie drive on to the bar in the 72nd minute
moments before the Netherlands striker squandered a golden chance for
United's second.
He controlled the ball in the area but miscued his volley and Xabi Alonso raced back to clear with Lopez stranded.
In
the dying minutes, the United defence scrambled the ball away from
Ronaldo close to goal and Lopez palmed a Van Persie drive around the
post.
"You come to this magnificent stadium but we just said it is just another game," Welbeck said on UEFA.com.
"You
must play the game not the occasion. We set out like we always do, and
that is to try to win games."
Ferguson told Sky
Sports: "The disappointing thing for me
was in the first half we sat back off them and they had a lot of play
around the edge of our box and that's unlike us.
"We changed it in the
second half and put Danny Welbeck on top of Xabi Alonso and it made a
big difference in terms of the ebb of the game and made us better in the
second half," he added.
"We
didn't have the possession we would have liked but I've got to be
pleased. The players have dug in and we go back to Old Trafford with a
great chance."